Effect of different sowing densities in mixed cultivation of blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) with spring crops on yield and quality

The aim of this investigation was to optimise the yield percentage of blue lupins in mixed cropping systems. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in Northern Germany (Institute of Organic Farming near Hamburg and Institute of Plant and Soil Science at Braunschweig). Two types of blue lupins, the determinate and branched type were cultivated together with spring barley, spring wheat or fodder peas in different seeding ratios (SR): 50% : 50%, 62,5% : 37,5 % and 75% : 25% of the respective pure cropping seeding rate. We present data on total grain yield, yield of blue lupins, yield percentage of blue lupins, protein content, and protein yield. Total grain yield decreased with increasing SR of blue lupins whereas, in contrast, the yield of blue lupins, protein content and protein yield increased. This shows the low competitive ability of blue lupins against the mixed cropping partners, particularly cereals. Therefore, the yield percentage of blue lupins in mixed cropping with cereals did not reach more than 25%. From the view of plant production and the purpose of animal nutrition the percentage of grain legumes should be higher and comparable to those of other crop mixtures like peas with spring barley or beans with oat

The nutritive value of lupins in sole cropping systems and mixed intercropping with spring cereals for grain production

In total 572 experimental plots were established at two sites during three years with different grain legume species, such as lupins, field beans and peas as well as mixed intercropping of different legumes or legumes with spring cereals for grain production. From all plots yield as well as quality and energy parameters of grains were analysed and the feed values calculated. Compared to soy bean meal yellow lupins have higher protein content but a low yield. While the energy content of lupins as feed for pigs, cattle and milking cows was only slightly higher than of soy bean meal, its feed energy for poultry was nearly comparable. In the case of mixed intercropping with spring cereals the feed energy content for pigs and cattle by using spring wheat or- barley as partner was higher than a comparable mixture of wheat and soy bean meal. The lowest feed energy contents were achieved with mixtures of legumes and oats. From the view of animal nutrition the parts of lupins in the mixed intercropping grains should be higher in the relation to spring cereals to increase especially the protein content

Yield and predicted feed quality of different German cultivars of blue lupins (Lupinus angustifolius)

In the present work different cultivars of blue lupins were tested at two sites, the experimental farm of the Institute of Organic Farming (IOF-site) at Trenthorst near Hamburg and the experimental station of the Institute of Plant and Soil Science (ICSS-site) at Braunschweig (conventional farming). The field experiments were conducted from 2003 – 2005 at the IOF-site and in 2006 and 2007 at the ICSS-site. At the IOF-site yield was 2,95 t ha-1 on average, whereas the mean yield at the ICSS-site was lower with 2.0 t ha-1. However, a significant interaction between cultivar and year was observed for yield (P<0.001 and P<0.01 for IOF-site and ICSS-site, respectively). At the ICSS-site the cultivars Vitabor, Boltensia, Borlu and Sonet showed the lowest yield. Yield was similar between the branched and determinate cultivars at both sites, but the crude protein content (CP) was in the majority of the cases higher in the branched cultivars. The CP content ranged between 28.2% and 37.8% DM at the IOF-site and between 34.7 and 39.2% DM at the ICSS-site, respectively. The newer cultivars Idefix and Probor, which were tested at ICSS-site in 2006 and 2007, had the highest CP content (39.2 and 38.8% DM). Additionally, the predicted Net Energy for Lactation (NEL) in dairy cow and the predicted Metabolized Energy for pigs (ME) showed interactions between year and cultivar with the exception of ME at the ICSS-site. Cultivars with a high NEL respectively ME were Bora, Boruta, Bolivio and Borlu at the IOF-site and Probor, Borlu, Idefix, Boregine and Boltensia at the ICSS-site

Aspects of Cultivation of Grain Legumes

Trotz guter Gründe für eine einheimische Erzeugung von Körnerleguminosen ist der Anbauumfang in Deutschland in den letzten Jahren stetig zurückgegangen. Hauptgründe sind die nicht ausreichende Ertragsleistung der Arten Erbse, Ackerbohne und Lupine sowie deutliche Ertragsschwankungen zwischen den Anbaujahren. Der Artikel gibt einen Überblick über das Inhaltsstoffspektrum der drei Körnerleguminosenarten und fasst die wesentlichen Aspekte ihres Anbaus zusammen. Besonderer pflanzenbaulicher Forschungsbedarf besteht hinsichtlich der Winterformen dieser Arten. Von entscheidender Bedeutung für den Erhalt des Körnerleguminosenanbaus in Deutschland ist das Fortbestehen der wenigen noch existierenden Zuchtprogramme für diese Arten sowie die Schaffung von inländischen Absatzmärkten und finanzieller Anreize für interessierte Landwirte.In spite of good arguments for home-growing of grain legumes their production areas in Germany decreased steadily for the last years. Main reasons are an unsatisfactory yield of the crop species pea, field bean, and lupin as well as considerable yield variation between years. This paper gives a rough survey of ingredients of the three grain legume species and summarizes the fundamental aspects of their cultivation. Special research requirements are seen in cultivation of winter types of these species. Special significance for preserving grain legume cultivation in Germany is attributed to the continuation of the few still existing breeding programmes as well as establishing domestic sales markets and financial impulsions for interested farmers

Alternatives for the Production of Forage Protein

The aim of the investigation is the provision of home-grown high-protein feed for cattle, pigs and poultry. Field trials with special attention to mixed cropping of lupines with spring cereals and of other legumes for grain production as well as for ensiling as whole crop were carried out in 2004 at two sites in northern Germany: At Braunschweig (conventional farming) and at Trenthorst, close to the Baltic Sea (organic farming). At Braunschweig, with blue lupine varieties grain yields between 29 and 44 dt DM/ha were achieved by sole cropping. In mixed cropping with field peas and spring cereals blue lupines revealed poor competitiveness with yield rates just between 20% and 32% of total grain yield. The only exception was the mixed cropping with rye, were a rate of 55% was achieved. At Trenthorst blue lupine varieties with 34 to 39 dt/ha grain yield were far superior to white (10 to 13 dt/ha) as well as yellow lupines (0,4 dt/ha). In mixed cropping with field pea the blue lupines were highly competitive in contrast to field beans and barley. The results followed the same pattern as in Braunschweig, however on a lower level. For the utilization by ruminants whole crop lupines, preferably grown with a companion crop such as barley, can be preserved by ensiling (Panciera et al., 2003). The rather high DM-content of the grain crop compensates for possible risks of effluent run-off from a less mature legume partner. Simultaneously the ensilability of the lupine is improved by providing additional fermentable carbohydrates in the mixture. The contents of ME for growing cattle, pigs and poultry as well as the Net Energy for Lactation (NEL) were calculated. For lupine varieties and their mixtures with spring cereals the NEL is comparable to that of soy bean meal. Irrespective of their approximately by 10% lower protein content lupines can well be used even in higher proportions in rations for dairy cows because of their relatively high energy content. The feeding value of lupines compared to soy oil meal indeed is characterized by lower protein content, but with their relatively high energy content they can be inserted with higher portions in the ration

ALICE: Physics performance report, volume I

Cortese P, Dellacasa G, Ramello L, et al. ALICE: Physics performance report, volume I. Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics. 2004;30(11):1517-1763.ALICE is a general-purpose heavy-ion experiment designed to study the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC. It currently includes more than 900 physicists and senior engineers, from both nuclear and high-energy physics, from about 80 institutions in 28 countries. The experiment was approved in February 1997. The detailed design of the different detector systems has been laid down in a number of Technical Design Reports issued between mid-1998 and the end of 2001 and construction has started for most detectors. Since the last comprehensive information on detector and physics performance was published in the ALICE Technical Proposal in 1996, the detector as well as simulation, reconstruction and analysis software have undergone significant development. The Physics Performance Report (PPR) will give an updated and comprehensive summary of the current status and performance of the various ALICE subsystems, including updates to the Technical Design Reports, where appropriate, as well as a description of systems which have not been published in a Technical Design Report. The PPR will be published in two volumes. The current Volume I contains: 1. a short theoretical overview and an extensive reference list concerning the physics topics of interest to ALICE, 2. relevant experimental conditions at the LHC, 3. a short summary and update of the subsystem designs, and 4. a description of the offline framework and Monte Carlo generators. Volume II, which will be published separately, will contain detailed simulations of combined detector performance, event reconstruction, and analysis of a representative sample of relevant physics observables from global event characteristics to hard processes. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version.